Global Economy

Actual Star Wars: US to carry out war exercise in outer space, satellite to target 'enemy' in orbit



If media reports are to be believed, the US Space Force will soon carry out a war exercise in outer space to test its capability of fending off “on-orbit aggression“. In a bid to test its readiness to face any attack from China, the Space Force will deploy its satellites and weapons in the outer orbit and hit a target. ‘The Sun’ has reported that the decision was taken days after a top Space Force commander expressed concerns over China’s network of tracking satellites.

Does China pose a threat to the US?

The Russia-Ukraine War has opened a new chapter in a space war with Moscow test-firing hypersonic missiles. But China poses the biggest threat to US space security and Beijing wants to match if not surpass its capability to hit targets in outer space. According to ‘The Economist’, Admiral Christopher Grady, Vice-Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said bluntly, “Space has emerged as our most essential warfighting domain.”

Space war exercise

US Space Force has collaborated with two private companies to recreate a space threat to test its responses. Rocket Lab and True Anomaly will recreate a space threat to test the responses and readiness of the force. Space Force’s Space Systems Command said in a statement that a Rocket Lab spacecraft will pose as an enemy target and it will be chased and shot by another satellite made by True Anomaly. In actual war, a satellite could target a US spacecraft or a satellite.

‘on-orbit aggression’

The ‘on-orbit aggression’ exercise has been planned because the Pentagon believes that energy weapons like lasers or particle beams can shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles that enter orbit.

The Pentagon is upset after China spent roughly $ 14 billion on its ambitious space program in 2023. China has also tripled its on-orbit intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites.

FAQs:

What will the US Space Force do to check its readiness to counter space attack?
Rocket Lab and True Anomaly will recreate a space threat to test the responses and readiness of the force. A Rocket Lab spacecraft will pose as an enemy target and it will be chased and shot by another satellite made by True Anomaly.

Why US Space Force is upset?
China poses the biggest threat to the US space warfare program and Beijing wants to match it if not surpass its capability to hit targets in outer space.

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